Monday, August 10, 2009

We've recently returned home from a few days away to our favourite place, Port Townsend, which is a sweet little Victorian town on the Washington Coast. We camped in the forest, hiked and berry picked, both cooked and dined with marvelous food, and visited the wonderful farmers market. And, together with Addie flew her first kite!

We had such a wonderful trip that, despite dragging along my camera, I only paused to take just a photos on the ferry ride home. I think we may head back this weekend, if the rain will stop.

The only problem with visiting Port Townsend is that it is one of the few places that I don't ever want to leave. We've visited almost every summer since I was a kid. I'm not sure if this history has something to do with why, but with each visit I feel this strong urge that we should just be there. Unfortunately, it is in a different country which makes that a little complicated. Maybe, somehow, one day?

Which leads me to wonder: are there other special little towns out there? Are there places in the world where you leave your heart each time you visit? And you feel like you would truly rather just be?

27 comments:

Gimli/Manitoba is that magical place for me. (Probably because I spent many summers there when I was young also.) But every single time I go back to my hometown (Winnipeg) for a visit, I always have the strong desire to take a day trip to Gimli.

Hey Sharilyn I LOVE Port Townsend! The first time I went we made a wrong turn and turned up in Tulip Town. And had a great little lunch. The town that I love to visit is Madeira Park, BC on the Sunshine Coast. I used to live there and miss it SO much! If you ever head out to the Sunshine Cost, check it out. Stay at The Sunshine Coast Resort for a beautiful stay. I also love Groningen in the Netherlands, just a beautiful quaint, and lovely little university town! Thank You for sharing your beautiful pictures of your trips!

moon stone beach in cambria, california. its amazing the whole beach is covered in pebbles in the most amazing colors, no sand just pebbles and they have the most amazing hotels and cute little boutiques. but the pebbles on the beach are amazing because they just feel so awesome on your feet when you're walking through. there are a million places here in central california along the beach that are just so pretty and perfect

Oh I want to choir camp (I know, nerdy!) right outside of port townsend when I was a kid, Sharilyn! I love it to pieces, it's so lovely. I think my special place though is La Push, Washington where my family goes camping on the ocean. It's the most beautiful place I've ever been to in my life.

On a trip with a girlfriend we discovered a sleepy coastal town in Connecticut. Years passed and our lives got busy. One day my new husband and I were looking for a new place to live and I got a job offer from that corner of the country. The decision was easy and made in a heartbeat. We've been here three years and couldn't imagine living anywhere else!

I grew up in Seattle and I love Port Townsend. I live in San Francisco now, but my heart definitely aches to return to living in Madrid...I completely understand the sentiment about leaving your heart in a place and feeling you need to go back to reclaim it...happy summer weekends!

my special place is eastham, ma. situation about 3/4 of the way up the "arm" of cape cod, the town holds so many of my best childhood memories. the cape as a whole means so much to me, but there is no place that i would rather be than eastham. here's to one day! :)*

We feel the same way about a tiny little farming community called Viroqua in Wisconsin! It is the area that the Organic Valley products come from. We love to rent a little cabin on a small working dairy farm where the girls can help with milking and feeding the cows and gather eggs from the chickens. It's hard to leave and we always itch to get back for another visit!

Not being very well travelled I have to stick to my home country (UK) for favorites. Before children it was Cumbria - lots of mountains and lakes and wonderful breathtaking views. Now it has to be Cornwall - amazing beaches and pirate coves and artists paradise. I am putting the wheels in motion to move there has it has just been voted the best county in the UK to bring up children.

I go back and forth about "my" town, Sister Bay, Wisconsin, which is in the middle of Door County and is a major tourist attraction. My parents still have the home my dad grew up in in Sister Bay, and I spent a ton of time there as a child and teenager. I lived there most summers. Lots of major things happened in my life in Door County...enough to make it bittersweet. It's so hard to see it change, but in the same sense, I'm happy for the people I know up there who are doing well business-wise.

I laugh now because I realized after purchasing our first and only house that it has almost exactly the same layout as the Sister Bay house. Some things are just in your blood.

My mom is actually on vacation in the Port Townsend area right now and she called on Saturday to say that she and her husband are renting a house there right away and not returning home from their trip(she lives on the central California coast)! Crazy, right? But I'm sort of proud of her- talk about having a sense of adventure and just following your spirit!

Mine is definately Sevilla, Spain. The music, the colour, the smell, the architecture, the language,the food. AhhOn a different note, I am currently looking to purchase a baby doll for my soon to be one year old girl. May I ask what doll Adelaide's is?Georgina

Hi, I haven't looked at your blog in a while and just read through the past few posts. I am wondering how you are feeling after that course of antibiotics...sounds terrible to feel unwell like that for so long. It is so difficult to be a mama to young children and find time for all of the things, like excercise, that keep us well. As for special places I am from New England and there are many places along the coast, in particular islands, that I feel lured to - how lovely to live by the sea... do you know the children's book, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney? I think you and Adelaide would both enjoy it. peace to you. katri

I've just made up some of your party bags for my son's 3rd party. The pattern was amazing, thank you! The only thing I'd suggest is you put the size of the finished bag somewhere clear. It's easy to work out, I know but just useful if you're looking at different patterns. Anyway, would love to win your giveaway.

The spot that tugs at my heart strings is Morro de Sao Paulo in Brazil. I have been there three times and each time I am so tempted to stay and start anew!However, I live in Port Townsend which is a pretty fantastic place and I understand why it has a special place in your heart! Glad you came to visit!

Hi Everyone, thanks for visiting me and for all of your sweet comments!

Kate: Choir camp?? lol i think that you and i would have been GREAT friends when we were kids :)

Amber + Katri: Yes, I am starting to feel better now. thanks!

Annie: amazing of your mom! I should have done that!

Georgina: the doll adelaide has is her absolute favourite (she only seems to love bald dolls right now - more baby-like, i suppose) She calls her Numno and she LOVES her. Numno is a Mon Premier Doll by Corolle. http://www.corolle.com/

Naturally Clean: hey! thanks so much for the bag size tip - i really appreciate it!

M E

Hello! My name is Sharilyn, and together I live with my guy and our sweet girl + baby boy in a hundred-and-two-year-old cottage on the east side of Vancouver, Canada.

Long ago, I began a my own little company called lovelydesign. After many years (with a little luck and a lot of work) my own creations enabled me to make a small living doing what I love to do. But these days I am both a full-time mama and maker, and so I am creating my goods only infrequently.

I keep this blog as a record of all sorts of things which I'd like to try to keep with me for always.